This is the Chicago Section ACS/Chicago Chemists Club/Iota Sigma Pi Annual Holiday
party/meeting. At
this event, everyone is a chemist (either practicing or honorary)! Come
join in the celebration with all your fellow chemists. In addition
to our technical program, Santa will be bringing gifts! ENJOY!

We are asking you to also bring a gift!!! Please bring some canned food or other non-perishable food item (in non-glass containers) that we, as the ACS, can donate to Loaves and Fishes Community Pantry. This year we are also collecting clothing that will be donated to Ada S. McKinley Community Services. Let's share our good fortune in the spirit of the season. THANKS!!

Professor Shakhashiri is renowned nationwide for his chemical demonstration shows, and in particular for his annual presentation, "Once Upon a Christmas Cheery, In the Lab of Shakhashiri". For over 30 years, this science-oriented entertainment has played to packed houses at such varied locations as the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the National Academy of Sciences and the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC and Boston's Museum of Science. His presentation has also been televised by stations across the country.

In this presentation to our local section, he will perform a version of his annual holiday presentation with a series of demonstrations featured in his four volume series "Chemical Demonstrations - A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry". This presentation, including such activities as oscillating chemical reactions and reactions of dry ice, promises to be informative and entertaining for all.

Our speaker in action--

Speaker Information:

Bassam Z. Shakhashiri is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the first holder of the William T. Evjue Distinguished Chair for the Wisconsin Idea. He is well known internationally for his effective leadership in promoting excellence in science education at all levels and for his development and use of demonstrations in the teaching of chemistry in classrooms as well as in less formal settings such as museums, convention centers, shopping malls and retirement homes. The Encyclopedia Britannica cites him as the "dean of lecture demonstrators in America." His scholarly publications, including the multi-volume series, Chemical Demonstrations A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry, are models of learning and instruction that have been translated into several languages.

As an advocate for chemistry, Professor Shakhashiri has given over 1,100 invited lectures and presentations in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and South America. He is probably best known to the public at large in the USA for his annual program, "Once upon a Christmas Cheery in the Lab of Shakhashiri," which has been seen on PBS and on cable television stations throughout the country. This science-oriented entertainment has played to packed houses at such varied locations as the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the National Academy of Sciences and the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, and the halls of the U.S. Congress. He has given numerous presentations at professional meetings, named lectureships and is a featured speaker at dedications of new science buildings, science centers, commencements, and honors convocations. He has been featured in newspapers, magazines, national and local radio and television, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, Newsweek, Time, the German-language Business Week, Today's Chemist, NBC Nightly News, National Public Radio, CNN, and the Larry King Show. He appears as a regular guest on the Ideas Network of Wisconsin Public Radio and on WKOW-TV's WAKE UP WISCONSIN.

In 1977, Professor Shakhashiri was the founding chair of the University of Wisconsin System Undergraduate Teaching Improvement Council. In 1983, he founded the Institute for Chemical Education (ICE) and served as its first director. His work with ICE inspired the establishment of the Center for Biology Education, the Merck Institute for Science Education, the Miami University (of Ohio) Center for Chemical Education, among others.

From 1984 to 1990, Professor Shakhashiri served as Assistant Director of the National Science Foundation for Science and Engineering Education. As the NSF chief education officer, he presided over the rebuilding of all the NSF efforts in science and engineering education after they had been essentially eliminated in the early 1980's. His leadership and effectiveness in developing and implementing national programs in science and engineering education have helped set the annual NSF education budget at its current level of almost $800 million. His NSF strategic plan launched the systemic initiatives and most of the other NSF education programs of the last two decades.

He currently directs the Initiative for Science Literacy and its various programs including Science in the City, SCIENCE IS FUN! public presentations, the SCIENCE IS FUN web site www.scifun.org, Science, the Arts, and the Humanities, Women in Science, and the Conversations in Science Series.

He is the recipient of over 35 awards, including the 2002 American Association for the Advancement of Science Award for Public Understanding of Science and Technology. In 2004 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the national chemistry fraternity Alpha Chi Sigma. In 2005 he received the Madison Metropolitan School District "Distinguished Service Award for Citizen", was elected Fellow of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, received the CHEMICAL PIONEER Award from the American Institute of Chemists, the American Chemical Society's Helen M. Free Award for Public Outreach for "lifelong accomplishments and for explaining and demonstrating science with charisma and passion", and was cited in the Answer Book of Capital Newspapers as "the coolest UW professor."

Fresh Fruit Cocktail
Garden Salad with a variety of dressings
Choice of Chicken Piciatta, Broiled White Fish, or Vegetarian Pasta Primavera with Alfredo Sauce. Note that White Fish can no longer be ordered at this late date. The restaurant needed lead time to order the fish for the dinner.
Included with the chicken and fish entrees are Athenian Oven Roasted Potatoes and a Peas, Mushrooms & Carrots Medley;Chocolate Sundae